Friday
December 09, 2005
SGN.org
Volume 33
Issue 49
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Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009
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Jane Monheit rings in the holidays at Jazz Alley |
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| Jane Monheit rings in the holidays at Jazz Alley | ||
| By Lorelei Quenzer
- SGN A&E Writer
Looking very festive in a maroon sequined tank and sparkly beads at her neck and wrist, Jane Monheit began her opening night set at Jazz Alley with flawless versions of "Sleighride" and "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve." After she introduced her band (Michael Kanan on piano, Washingtonian Miles Okazaki on guitar, Orlando Le Fleming on bass and husband Rick Montalbano on drums), Monheit spoke about loving Seattle, especially Jazz Alley, which she claimed is the venue she's performed at the most in her career. At last year's week of shows, which was also right before the holidays, she found herself playing a lot of Christmas tunes, and she shared that those performances helped to inspire her latest album, The Season. Not that Monheit needs much additional inspiration to belt out songs about St. Nick. As an unabashed fan of Christmas, she cheerfully admits that "I'm one of those people who go just a little too crazy." Monheit promised the audience that she would perform the whole album plus a few extra pieces, launching into the perky "The Man With The Bag." She then introduced the Carpenters' song "Merry Christmas Darling" as her favorite song on the album, interpreting it with a Brazilian slant. Monheit and her band took a break from the holiday theme, continuing with three "brand new songs" for her set, and she apologized in advance if she missed some of the words. The trio of tunes - "September in the Rain," Antonio Carlos Jobim's "So Tinha De Ser Com Voce," and "You're Getting to Be a Habit With Me" from 42nd Street - are hopefully a glimpse of another Monheit album in the works (hint, hint: we love it when you sing in Portuguese, Jane!). Then it was back into the Christmas spirit, with "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," and a medley of "I Love the Winter Weather" and "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm, " the latter especially showcasing the influence Ella Fitzgerald has had on her style. Here's the thing: Monheit's voice is gorgeous but, love it or loathe it, she tends to go overboard with vocalese, singing around the melodies as she scats a la Ella. It happens more in her live shows than on her albums, which are crisp, and it can be a little lounge-singer-ish. Sometimes I just want the song, you know? I forgive her, because 1) she's young and she'll probably grow out of it; and 2) did I mention that her voice is gorgeous? Back to the show: she continued the holiday theme with "Moonlight in Vermont," "The Christmas Waltz" and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." Her poignant rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," opening with a few a cappella lines from "I'll Be Home For Christmas," had the big, beefy guy behind me sniffling. Although that could've been a cold, I guess. Yeah, that's it. A cold. Monheit returned to the stage for a quiet encore of "My Grown Up Christmas List," with Kanan on keyboards. She thanked the audience and her band for a fantastic evening. All told, this holiday evening with Jane Monheit was a lovely gift&one that I wouldn't want to return, unless that means that she's returning next year! |
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International Readers |
 
It's new!A blog created by the SGN staff so you can be heard |
"Putting on the Ritz |
The Beauty of Freedom artist's reception |
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copyright Seattle Gay News - DigitalTeamWorks 2005